Grapple



March'2, 1954 J. BRESLAV 2,670,983

GRAPPLE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 S'She ts-Sh'ee't 1 64 /4, M as x INVENTOR q Jae/r Breslau ATTORN EY J. BRESLAV March 2, 1954 GRAPPLE 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 R O T N E V m Jae/1 Breslau ARNEY March 1954 J. BRESLAV 2,670,983

GRAPPLE Filed Dec. 4. 1950 3 Sheets Sheet 3 INVENTOR JacKBreslav.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1 954 UNITED STATES PATENT" QFFICE V GRAPRLE Jack Breslav, New Haven, Conn.

Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,092

This invention relates to grapples and more particularly to improvements in grapples especially adapted to engage and lift sheet, or plate stock, either singly, or in piles, for transfer to another location.

Long and wide sheets, or plates, of relatively thin sheet stock are usually transported from one location to another by the use of grapples having opposing angles, or bars, which are moved in under the side edges of the sheet, or pile of sheets, and then raised to lift the stock and support it, while it is being transported. The ends of such sheets, or plates, not being supported often ex tend beyond the ends of the supporting bars and bend downwardly and occasionally slide lengthwise from the bars. In other instances the sheets, or plates, especially when theydo not extend beyond the ends of the supporting bars, bend downwardly between these bars, occasionally slipping through and dropping.

One object of this invention is to provide a grapple having included in its structure the features and principles of this invention.

Another object is to provide in the structure a grapple of the above type means to support the ends of relatively long sheets, or plates, of sheet stock while the same is lifted and transported from one location to another.

Another object is to provide in a grapple of the above nature sheet end supporting means which 4 Claims. (cram-67y reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views,,the reference numerals ll end of the beams H and I2 and are welded thereto to the ends of beams l I and 12 together.. The pairs of beams l5, l6 depend from the beams II and i2 and with a cross plate I! under each pair. form guideways for oppositely laterally directed V slide bars 18, l9,-and 2I, 22.

its ends welded one to each of the beams H and i2, provides means by which the grapple may be engaged by a hook 24 from a hoist (not shown), lifted, and transported from one location to another.

The slide bars I8, 19, 2| and'22 have a gear toothed rack 25 attached, as by welding, upon is adjustable lengthwise of the sheet stock and bodied in practice, it being understood that vari ous changes may be made within the scope of,

what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a grapple'emk bodying the features and principles of this" 1 117: vention;

Figure 2, is a front side view of the same; and; Figure 3, is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. i

Referring now to the drawings 'wherein like their inner faces, so that the racks25 of each pair oppose each other. Agear pinion 26 is disposed between each pair of racks 25 with its teeth .in mesh with the teeth of each rack, whereby rotation of the pinion 26 will slidingly move the bars of each pair in opposite directions within the guideways formed by the pairs of beams l5 and i6 and the plate ll between and by which they are disposed and supported. An arm 21 is at-, tached to the outer end of each of the slide bars l8, l9, 2| and 22 and depends therefrom, A sheet supporting member constituted herein by two lengths of angle bars 28 and 29 which are 1 separated intermediate the arms 21 on each side of the grapple, is secured to and extends from each arm with one of the horizontal legs 30 of the angle bars at one side of the grapple extending toward the corresponding leg 30 of the angle at the other side of the grapple. The sheets to be lifted ar supported on and extend between the legs 30 of the angle bars from one side of the grapple to the other. The opposing ends of the angle-bars 28 and 29, at each side of the grapple areconnected together by a member 3| which extends upwardly from the leg 30 in alignment withv and extending above th vertical legs 32 of the angle bars 28 and 29.. The member 3! re-,

The pinion 26 is mounted on a shaft 33. which.

A loop 23, having extends upwardly into a speed reduction gear 34 wherein it is drivingly connected through suitable gearing with a shaft 35. The shaft 33 extends from one reduction gear 34 to the other, below the upper surface of the beams H and i2, 5 and has an intermediate bearing 36. A sprocket wheel 31 is secured on the shaft 35 and a chain 38 drivingly connects this wheel 31 to a sprocket 39 mounted on the shaft of a motor 48. The motor 40 when desirably operated will..cause :the arms 2'! to move toward or away from each other to position the legs 30 in under the side edges. of the sheet stock 41, or to move the same from under said sheet stock.

It has been noted that sheet stock will not tend to bulge downwardly between the' opposing legs 36 if the ends of the sheetszbend downwardly; even a, slight amount. However, if the sheets are allowed to bend downwardly too much and-* without some support, or control, the sheets mayslip lengthwise out of the: grappleand; cause. considerable damage, or. injury. to aworkman: There. has, therefore, been included in the grappl'sof this invention, .new and useful. means to controlthe sheet stock lying betweenthe'arms: 27a on the legs 30 against. having, its. end. benddownwardly. to an undesirable degree and; to. preventx'lengthwise; slippage. thereof and such means is:adjustablerlengthwise to accommodate various: lengths; of sheet stock:

The means-for supporting; and control-ling the: sheet .stock 4=l.;as' above described is herein shown. as; being -i constitutedv by'; laterally, spaced. apart lengthwise: extending: channel beams 43" and lie-i which: are. supported below and fromv the beams:

i I. and I2: by-straps 45: and. 45;; a pair of such. straps:- being .used: at each. end .of the beamsas. and; The straps 45T and 46 are. connected-to.

across-barf 417:: which. extends; fromone strap: to the other in under the beams 15 andglfi; 40 Other straps: 48 andsv49i attached: to :the bars-4? support. a. cross-bar; or; plate. 58? at: each end oftlthe:beams 43.:and-r443. Theabeams 4 3 and=3d lieorr'and: are securedtmas byiwelding the cross-bars, or: plates 50?.

The channels of; thebeams; 4-3 and isarea directedi outwardly, and 3 with the: plates 5;; f orm aiguideway for; oppositely directedislide-bars 52;. and 53: Each: of the; slides bars: 52rand15-3v has; a gearrtoothediracl; id attachediuponiits inner;- 50 face; so thatzthe racks..54 ;of each barzoppose-eaclr. other. Ai gear pinion disposed: between; the racks 5'4 WlthitS:i-t68th;i11;. mesh witlrthe; teeth: of i each rack; whereby rotation: of the: pinion 54 will slidingly'; move; the barsafizsandj 55 53 in opposite directions Withini the;- guideway; formed between the beams .43; and.a44a.. An 1 arm-= 56' is attached to the. outer: end; ofrieach: bar 52-: and- 53' 1 and 1 dependsitherefrom; Anan lez piece- S'F'is attached to .theLlower endiiof eaclri 231111.56; withthe horizontal. leg: 58 off the: other: The upper andsheetengaging, and supporting, surface 59 of thedegs is is preferablyslightly below the upper and I sheet 1 engaging; and; supporting;-

surface 60 of the legs -30 of thie=sheet sidei=supei64- secured' thereonwhich: is. connectedz toaa 751 sprocket wheel 65 on the shaft of a motor 68 by a chain 61. By proper operation of the motor 66 the slide bars 52 and 53 may be moved to draw the opposing arms 56 toward, or away, from each other, to dispose the legs 58, one in under each end of the sheet stock M.

The grapple of this invention is lowered over a sheet, or pile of sheets, with the sheet side engaging legs 30 separated to clear the sides of the sheet, orpile-of sheets, and with the sheet end engaging 1gs58 separated to clear the sheet ends. The motor 49 is now actuated to move the legs 30 in under, and the vertical legs 32 against, the side edges of the sheet, or pile of sheets, and then the motor 66 is actuated to move the'l'egsfifl' ir'nunder, and the vertical legs 68 of the anglepiece 51 against, the end edges of the sheet, or pile of sheets. The grapple is now raised whereby th supported sheet, or pile of sheets, is raised and may be transported to anotherr'location; Assoon as the sheet, or pile-:of sheets; is raised the ends of samebend down.-

wardly slightlvto rest on the-legs 58 and thus preventathe sheet, orzpile of sheets, from-bowingdownwardly between the opposing. sidelegs. 3K3, and by, the sheet ends-engaging the vertical-legs Bil-the sheets arerprevented from sliding length-- wise; fromv thegrapple;

While there has. been shown and described. herein-one form in whichthe'features. and .-.prin-.-

ciples ofthis-invention are practically embodied,-

it; will be understood that-the sameimay'be eznbodied. in other specific:v forms without departing from the spirit and essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present em.-

bodiment. be? consideredas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to-the claims" rather than. to. the. foregoing. description to in.

lengthwisedn, opposite: directions, an arm rigidwitlr amt-depending from .theouter. end of. each.

of said bars and having an inwardly extending fiangei-atithevlower endwthereof, a pair ofbars extending; longitudinally, of the frame and sup ported 1 thereby, said: last-mentioned bars. being movable lengthwise..- opposite a directions,- an arm rigid with and depending from the outer end.

of each; of." said last-mentionedbars and having an: inwardlyrextending-fiangeat. the "lower" endthereof; means" to move 1 the: laterally movable bars-andmeans:tomovezthe longitudinally,'movable bars.

21 Inaggrapple, arr-elongatedsupportingframe;

a pair off vertically disposed .arms one; at each:

side of the frame: andsupported: thereby, said? arms being movable toward 1 andraway. from: each other in -a direction transversely of the frame; a second painofverticalljrdisposed arms one at r each end? ofi'the frame and supported thereby; saidarms'beingmovable"towardand-away from each other in a direction IOHEitudinalIybf'the' frame, load-.engaging andrsupportingf means at thetlower. 'endofj'eacli ofthe first pairiofarms,v load-engaging-and-supporting means at" the lower end of each ofsaid second pair of armsand disposed .a distance. below the firstementioned load-engagingend-supporting: means; meansr to more; sadmfirstpamoi: arms toward andwaway from each other, and means to move said second pair of arms toward and away from each other.

3. In a grapple for engaging and supporting sheet stock to be raised and transported from one location to another, laterally spaced apart main supporting beams, laterally extending guideways in under and at each end of said main beams, a pair of oppositely movable slide bars in each of said guideways, an arm depending from each slide bar, a horizontal leg on the lower end of each arm and extending toward each other, a lengthwise extending guideway in under said laterally extending guideways, a pair of slide bars oppositely slidable in said lengthwise guideway, each of said last mentioned slide bars having an arm in fixed relation thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, said last mentioned arms each having a horizontal leg extending from the lower end thereof and extending toward each other, means to move the laterally slidable slide bars, and means to move the lengthwise slidable slide bars.

4. In a grapple for engaging and supporting sheet stock to be raised and transported from one location to another, laterally spaced apart main supporting beams, laterally extending guideways in under and at each end of said main zontal leg extending from the lower end thereof and extending toward each other, means to move the laterally slidable slide bars, and means to move the lengthwise slidable slide bars, the upper surface of the legs on the arms extending downwardly from said lengthwise movable slide bars being below the upper surface of the legs on the arms extending downwardly from said laterally movable slide bars.

JACK BRESLAV.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,276,905 Windsor Mar. 1'7, 1942 2,284,238 Todd May 26, 1942 

